08/15/13

The
PTRS 1941 14.5mm

PTRS rifles in action in
Belgorad, notice the loader on the right operating bolt.

Mechanical Characteristics

The Simonov anti-tank
rifle was a semi-automatic rifle fed by a 5 round clip (picture below)
that was loaded into the receiver and then held under pressure by swing magazine under the receiver. On firing the
last round the bolt is held open, the magazine release catch can only be
operated when the bolt is locked back. The PTRS is gas operated, a small
hole 2/3 of the way down the barrel is used to take propellant gas and
drive a ram-rod against the bolt face, unlocking it and then driving it
rearward. A very agricultural rifle in
its construction with rough swirl marks on the receiver, it has a
tendency to jam when dirty (and the 14.5mm cartridge produces a lot of
residue which blocks the gas port). It has a very
long travel trigger inferior to that on the PTRD although it does come
with a very crude safety catch .

A heavy rifle that can be lifted and
carried by one man when necessary but only for short distances. However
the rifle can easily be split down into two units, the barrel with gas
system can be detached (11.4Kg) by first locking back the bolt, knocking a square peg located in the
front of the receiver
(9.5Kg) from left to right, a plunger pin must be held down on the right side to
unlock the peg and then the peg can be slid along until it reaches a
stop pin. Complete peg removal is normally not necessary but can be
removed by inserting a long pin at 45 degrees through the top of the peg
to disengage the stop pin. The two separate units are easy to carry but
re-assembly can be a bit fiddly when under pressure depending on how tight a fit
the barrel and square peg are to the receiver. The rifle comes with a fold up bipod and a
single baffle muzzle break.

Rifle length: 2108mm,
Weight: 20.9Kg

Bolt held open, magazine empty

Bolt forward, view of magazine

The Ammunition

Left:
PTRS 5 round clip

Above: Loading a 5 round clip,
the clip is inserted into the receiver, not the magazine.